See a Different Side of Bangkok at This Art Hub on Stilts

(SPOT.ph) Central Bangkok can get frenetic and dizzying, and you may find yourself yearning for a bit of respite or a slower pace. But tucked in a community not too far from the BTS Skytrain Silom line, there's a place where you can spend an entire day lazing by the river, watching the boats float by, and, in between, enjoy good food and drinks while letting your creativity out to play.

If you need to give your feet and legs some rest and your mind some quiet time, take a short BTS (Bang Wa station) or MRT (Tha Phra station) ride and stroll to The Artist's House (locally known as Baan Silapin) located at the Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market.

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What to see at The Artist's House in Bangkok, Thailand:

Not to be mistaken for a marketplace where vendors and buyers are on boats navigating the river tributaries, Khlong Bang Luang is a community of wooden houses on stilts, with canals (or khlongs) between them.

Whether you get there by motorbike, taxi, or on foot, you'll meander through some quiet side streets before you get to the area between two temples: Wat Kampaeng Bang Chak and Wat Khuhasawan Voraviharn. If you have a private vehicle, you can find more than ample parking there.

As you walk down the small sois (sidestreets), you'll pass by food stalls and restaurants with many choices from fresh juices and Thai food to waffles and coffee. There are even a few quaint stores selling almost anything you might need, much like our sari-sari stores. On the way to The Artist's House, you'll walk on rickety planks beside the river, passing by some more stalls of food and trinkets, as well as artwork and fashion pieces; plus, more Thai food and fish food—yes, those clear plastic bags filled with colorful puffs are meant for the fish thriving in the river. If you're lucky, you'll pass by an artist or two in the middle of completing their works.

When you catch sight of various footwear left outside wooden doors, you know you've arrived. It can get crowded on holidays and weekends, but still, it never gets too busy here. This eclectic two-storey teak house is over 200 years old.

After you leave your footwear outside, you can walk around and appreciate the local arts and crafts on the walls and on the shelves. There are various souvenirs like carved depictions of Muay Thai and cats in various poses and using different media. There are also one-of-a-kind mugs and creative self-published books. If, for some reason, you cannot find a souvenir for someone on your list, you can make one yourself.

There is a huge selection of colored beads from which you can make your own bracelet (THB 100) or paint a variety of blank media: fan (THB 120), mask (THB 395), canvas (THB 230), among others. You can make your selection from the beads and art supplies available, then order your choice of iced drink before finding your place on a wooden chair or on the wooden floor to start your creative process. But the most sought-after tables are, understandably, outside the doors and by the canal.

The riverside spots fill up fast—and with good reason, because from there, you can look out to the canal, where, periodically, long-tail long boats and solar-powered boats filled with tourists pass. Sometimes, vendors of food and other wares on boats also stop at the small port. You can take your time and draw inspiration from the life unfolding all around you as you sip your Thai milk tea.

It's cool because of the shade and the ventilation, but it is also cool in that it is a chill place with your shoes off, everyone just minding their own business or chatting in hushed tones.

There is an old white chedi in the courtyard behind the house where sometimes puppet shows are held. But there are also canopies suspended from above to keep the place shaded for even more people to make their arts and crafts.

Upstairs, there are more seats and more art to browse. The Willow Tea Shop has a wide selection of teas that you can order by the pot or opt for the pairing of iced tea and scones. You can browse books—yes, they have books in English—as well as paintings and photographs. There are also crafts like journals, rubber stamps, and printed canvas bags—all of them for sale. From here, you can peer down at the chedi below.

After you're done hanging out and crafting, as well as browsing and shopping, you can have a more filling meal like tom yum, Thai basil chicken, or chicken curry paired with rice at one of the stores on the same row. You can also venture across the bridge to have a hot bowl of kuay chap moo noodle soup (rice noodles with various pork innards and skin) at THB 50 and mango sticky rice (THB 70) and appreciate the panoramic scene.

You can also walk up and down the various small bridges, taking photos of the nearby temples and everyday life.

All in all, you'll enjoy the distinct vibe that the place has—for many, a welcome surprise and change of pace from what is associated with the megacity Bangkok.

The Artist’s House (Baan Silapin) is at Khlong Bang Luang Market, 28 Khuha Sawan, Phasi Charoen, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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